†††† WHEREAS,
chronically homeless individuals, those with the most persistent forms of
homelessness, are afflicted not only by poverty but also by severe conditions
such as mental illness and substance abuse; and

WHEREAS, mayors and cities are on the front lines of
the response to chronic homelessness; and

†††† WHEREAS,
in order to make housing for the chronically homeless work, supportive services
are necessary to mitigate health, substance abuse, and mental health problems;
and

†††† WHEREAS,
research suggests that supportive housing models to end chronic homelessness
are highly effective and that the cost of providing supportive housing is
substantially offset by savings in the most expensive systems of community care
including hospitalizations, jails, and other correctional facilities; and

†††† WHEREAS,
these supportive strategies improve the quality of life for both the
individuals being housed and the community at large; and

†††† WHEREAS,
the abolition of chronic homelessness requires collaboration and coordination
at all levels of government, together with community institutions, businesses,
and faith-based organizations, to determine how best to implement prevention
and intervention strategies; and

†††† WHEREAS,
approximately 110 cities have committed to create jurisdictionally-based
10-Year plans to end chronic homelessness in response to the resolution passed
in the 2003 Annual Meeting in partnership with the U.S. Interagency Council on
Homelessness and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and

†††† WHEREAS,
the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has been meeting with mayors
across the country to foster 10-Year Plans in partnership with all sectors of
the community,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorses the Administrationís FY 2005 $70
million multi-agency budget proposal for the Samaritan Initiative, which will
help cities implement housing and supportive services strategies to end chronic
homelessness; and

†††† BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports an
increased investment of at least $45 million to be included in the Substance
Abuse Mental Health Services Administrationís Projects of Regional and National
Significance for the Ending Long Term Homelessness Service Initiative to add to
the on-site supportive services of the Samaritan Initiative.